The 80th anniversary of Tove Jansson’s Moomins is more than just a celebration; it’s a testament to the enduring power of children’s literature.

I’m indebted to Visit Finland for keeping me on top of this important anniversary, and for making me kick myself for not having spent more time following the Moomin trail during my Scandawegian travel days (mostly spent falling in love with the region’s child-friendly education system).

This year, Finland celebrates the 80th anniversary of Tove Jansson’s magical Moomin characters, a journey that began with The Moomins and the Great Flood, published in 1945.

With festivities spanning throughout 2025, it’s the perfect time for both lifelong fans like me, and newcomers too young, or just unfortunate enough never to have experienced the warmth, whimsy, and wonder of the Moomins, to savour Momminmania.

Unforgettable Moominous Exhibitions and Events

Per Visit Finland, the 80th anniversary is marked by a variety of exciting events:

Tove Jansson – Paradise Exhibition: Held at the Helsinki Art Museum (HAM) until early April, this exhibition showcases Jansson’s public paintings and provides a glimpse into her creative process with previously unseen charcoal drawings.

Moomin Museum in Tampere: The world’s only museum dedicated to the Moomins, hosting special events and exhibitions throughout 2025. A celebratory event on August 9th honours Tove Jansson’s birthday.

Helsinki Architecture & Design Museum: In October 2025, this museum will explore Jansson’s contributions to architecture and design, highlighting her creative genius beyond literature.

Moomin World and Moomin Ice Cave

Moomin World: Located in Naantali, this enchanting theme park brings Moomin Valley to life with lush gardens, live performances, and charming character homes.

Moomin Ice Cave: Situated in Finland’s Lakeland region, this frosty wonderland features ice sculptures honouring the very first Moomin story, The Moomins and the Great Flood.

Exploring the Finnish Coast and Archipelago

To fully embrace the Moomin spirit, explore the natural beauty of Finland’s coast and archipelagos, says Visit Finland. That was something I did manage to do, to satisfy my passion for geomorphology, but somehow I missed visiting Pellinki Island, home to Tove Jansson’s summer cottage, and I missed a chance to visit Söderskär lighthouse, which inspired Moominpappa’s Lighthouse and could have ticked boxes for both my love of children’s literature and my pharology passion.

Moomin Shops and Cafés

Visit Finland invites visitors to take a piece of Moomin magic home from Moomin Shops in Helsinki and at Helsinki Airport. The flagship stores, unsurprisingly, offer the world’s largest collection of Moomin products.

All of which is to say, the 80th anniversary of Tove Jansson’s Moomins is more than just a celebration; it’s a testament to the enduring power of children’s literature.

This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.